A few days later, it was the day of the contest, and registration finally opened. May promised herself she would wake up first. Tomorrow, she told herself, she'd get up early, grab something to eat, and march straight to the contest hall the moment the doors opened, first in line, no excuses.
She set her Pokédex alarm, her phone alarm, a clock alarm, and even the microwave timer, just in case. All of them were set for exactly seven.
…The next morning, she slept through every single one.
She didn't wake up until Max checked in and smacked her in the head with a pillow, classic sibling behavior.
"MAY! IT'S MORNING!" Max yelled.
She bolted upright with a gasp, "I'M LATE I'M LATE I'M LATE"
She tumbled out of bed in a flurry of clothes and panic, tripping over her own shoes as she tried to pull on her jacket. Her routine, her carefully planned routine evaporated instantly as she spun in circles, stretching, muttering steps under her breath, already resigned to skipping breakfast and sprinting across town.
But the smell of food stopped her short.
She skidded into the kitchen and froze.
Ash was already there, calmly flipping something in a pan like it was any other morning. Plates were lined up on the counter, toast, eggs, fruit, and a thermos already filled. Pikachu sat on the table beside him, eating a plate of eggs with far too much ketchup, while Vee munched on a piece of toast, tail flicking lazily. Bagon snoozed against Ash's neck, and Beldum hovered nearby, humming softly in its sleep.
And on the counter sat the usual plate of Pokéblocks Ash made for May's Pokémon, already sorted. He generally included them in everyone's Pokémon's diet, but this time they were actually being used for their intended purpose, helping with contests, and not just because they were super nutritious.
Ash glanced over his shoulder, "Morning,"
May stared, "Wh-how are you so calm?! Registration opens today!"
"I know," Ash said easily. He slid a plate toward her, "Eat,"
"I don't have time to-"
Then Brock appeared behind her, gripping her shoulders and firmly pushing her down into a chair, "Yes, you do," he interrupted, "You'll think clearer if you're not running on fumes,"
May hesitated, then slumped into the chair, hands shaking as she grabbed the toast, "…You planned this, didn't you?"
Ash shrugged, "Figured there was a non-zero chance you'd oversleep,"
Max snorted from the doorway, "A hundred percent chance,"
"MAX!"
Brock walked in right behind him, already fully dressed and sipping coffee, "Registration doesn't close for hours," he added calmly, "You're fine,"
"I wanted to be first," May muttered, stuffing food into her mouth.
"You wanted to be ready," Ash corrected, "First doesn't matter if you're a mess. I mean, look at your hair. You haven't even brushed it. Or taken a shower,"
May froze.
Slowly, deliberately, she reached up and felt the absolute bird's nest that had formed overnight, "…I hate you," she said weakly.
"No, you don't," Ash smiled, "Eat first. Shower second. Panic third,"
Brock nodded in agreement, "In that order,"
—
Later that day, May was practically vibrating with energy.
She was ready. Hair done. Outfit perfect. Pokémon fed and polished. The moment she finished tying her ribbon, she was already halfway out the door.
"I'm going to register!" she announced, "Don't be late!"
Ash waved her off as he washed dishes, "I'll catch up. Gonna clean up first,"
"Don't get distracted!" she shouted back.
"No promises,"
May didn't hear that part.
She practically sprinted through Slateport, Max struggling to keep up while Brock maintained a steady pace behind them. The closer they got to the Contest Hall, the louder the noise became, voices overlapping, cameras clicking, excited chatter spilling into the streets.
May slowed.
"…Why is there a crowd?" she asked.
They rounded the final corner, and stopped dead.
A mass of people had gathered in front of the Slateport Contest Hall, packed shoulder to shoulder. Contestants. Fans. Coordinators-in-training. Even a few reporters.
Then May felt the need to turn, and when she did, she groaned internally.
Leaning casually near the edge of the crowd was Drew.
Perfect posture. Confident smirk. He wasn't even looking at the hall.
He was staring at something in his hands, what looked like a picture.
Drew snapped it shut the moment he heard extra footsteps rushing up. He cleared his throat and pretended nothing had happened as he slipped the picture into his pocket.
May crossed her arms, "Of course he's here,"
Brock glanced between them, "You know him?"
"Unfortunately. That's Drew," May muttered.
Brock understood immediately, he remembered when May and Ash had talked about the guy, and also how thoroughly Ash had roasted him.
Drew noticed her then, and smiled.
"Oh," he said lightly, "If it isn't May. Didn't think you'd make it on time,"
Her eye twitched.
Max froze, then slammed his fist into his palm in realization, "Ohhh, now I remember, you're that creep who tried to tell my sister to give up,"
Drew's eye twitched, "Why, I have no idea what you're talking about,"
"No, I remember," Max continued, "Ash said there was some guy with dumb green hair who acted like a creep, kinda like a pathetic loser who scares off new people to win,"
And no, Max wasn't making it up. Ash had actually described Drew like that.
Drew's eye twitched again at the name Ash, memories of being roasted a week ago flashing through his mind. He took a slow breath, forcing himself to calm down. Yelling at a kid wouldn't look good, he had a reputation to uphold.
"Hey, Max, maybe you shouldn't say that to people," Brock suggested, though he didn't stop him or scold him.
May sighed. Hearing Max say it for her sake did make her feel a little better. She looked forward again, "So anyway, why is there a crowd here?"
Drew snorted, "Of course you wouldn't know, and you want to call yourself a coordinator. Since you asked so nicely, it's because-"
He was cut off by the sharp cry of a bird.
Not just any bird.
An Altaria.
In the center of the crowd stood none other than Lisia, waving enthusiastically with both hands and wearing a bright, radiant smile.
The screech echoed again, clear and musical, cutting clean through the noise of the crowd.
White wings swept overhead.
Altaria descended in a lazy spiral of clouds and feathers, landing lightly atop a decorative lamppost near the front of the Contest Hall. Its cottony wings fluffed dramatically as the crowd erupted.
Then she walked in behind her, spinning in place. Pink bow. Confident grin. One hand raised high as if she were already on stage.
"Hiiiiii, ev-er-y-bo-dy!" she sang out, "Lisia here! Me and my Altaria, Ali, have come to Slateport City's Contest Spectacular Hall for a bit of FUN!"
Cameras immediately swung toward her. Reporters surged forward. The crowd leaned in as one.
May froze.
"That's—" she whispered.
"Yeah," Brock said as he already had heart eyes and was swooning, "That's Lisia!"
Altaria beat its wings once, scattering a light mist into the air as Lisia spun in place, laughing.
"Well then, watch me as I dive right in again today!"
She leapt forward, landed in a flourish, and struck a pose that absolutely demanded applause.
"Dazzling, dizzying, doldrums-defying!"
"Dazzling! Dizzying!"
The crowd roared.
May felt her stomach drop.
Drew straightened slightly, clearly pleased to be anywhere near this.
Then Lisia clasped her hands together, eyes sparkling as she looked out over the sea of faces.
"Lisia's… Miraculous… Contest Scouting!"
Altaria cried out on cue, wings spreading wide as if framing the moment.
Her finger bounced from person to person.
May took one unconscious step back.
The finger stopped.
"You there!" Lisia pointed, directly at May, "Watching me with that baffled expression on your face! Hi! Have you never joined in a contest?"
May's mouth opened. No sound came out.
Max slowly turned to her, "…Uh oh,"
"That's just what I want to hear!" Lisia clapped once, "Then let's get this show on the road! This is the Trainer I'm gonna scout today!"
The crowd leaned in.
"And her name is…"
Lisia stepped closer, eyes lighting up as she really looked at her, her stance, her ribbon, the way she instinctively held herself like she was bracing for something big.
May sputtered a little and spoke in a voice that was almost too quiet and nervous, "U-um, May—"
"May!" Lisia immediately called out into the air for everyone to hear.
May flinched.
"When I took a good look," Lisia continued warmly, "I could tell right away,"
She reached into her bag and pulled out a sleek card case and a small boxed kit, holding them up for the cameras.
"May! You can enjoy Contest Spectaculars at the Pokémon Contest Hall right here. Now listen up, because I don't just want to see you making your Pokémon strong. I want to see you bringing out a whole new brilliant side of them to show off!"
She handed May the items directly.
"So here you go! Take these! This is a Contest Pass, which is the first thing anyone needs to take part in a Contest Spectacular! And this one is a Pokéblock Kit, which will let you make Pokéblocks for your Pokémon out of Berries!"
May stared down at them, hands shaking. May gulped as Drew stood at her side, looking at her with wide eyes and complete envy.
"May's story begins today!" Lisia declared, spinning dramatically, "Yep! And this chapter should be titled…"
She threw both arms wide.
"A Sudden Encounter! Miraculous Contest Scouting!"
The crowd exploded.
"That's what I'd call it!" Lisia laughed, "Now, everybody out there watching, you'd better expect great things from May, because I do!"
Altaria cried triumphantly overhead.
"That's it for today's Lisia's Miraculous Contest Scouting!" Lisia waved enthusiastically, "See you all next time!"
Lisia didn't even give May time to process the applause.
She stepped in close, bright eyes sparkling, and gently, but firmly, took May by the wrist.
"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!" Lisia chirped, "Standing still after a big moment is terrible for momentum! You've gotta ride the wave!"
"I—wait—wha—" May barely managed as she was already being pulled forward.
Altaria hopped down from the lamppost and glided ahead of them, wings fluffed dramatically as if clearing a path. The crowd parted almost instinctively.
Max blinked, then pointed, "Hey! They're kidnapping May!"
"Yeah," Brock said as he still had heart eyes, "I wish she kidnapped me instead,"
Drew stood frozen, teeth clenched, watching as May was escorted straight past the doors he'd been waiting outside of.
"…Tch," he muttered, looking away as he put the photo he had back in his pocket. It was actually a picture of Lisia he'd wanted to ask her to sign, he'd even come specifically to Dewford because he heard Lisia was gonna be here.
Just then, Ash walked up casually, sipping on a can of tea. He found Max and Brock and walked up to them, spotting Drew, "Oh hey, you're the loser, right, Brew?" Ash said. To be honest, at first when he started roasting Drew, it was because Drew actually annoyed him, now it was because he liked seeing Drew's reactions.
Drew's eye twitched. He didn't honor that with a response and instead marched away to sign up for the contest, muttering something under his breath.
Ash chuckled, then looked over at Brock and Max, "So what did I miss?"
"Um, well, May got kidnapped by her idol, and Brock is… being Brock…"
Ash looked at Brock's heart eyes and sighed, "Yeah, that makes sense. Well, you guys wanna go do something? Looks like May's gonna be busy for a bit,"
—
Meanwhile, in the Contest Hall,
Lisia pulled May into a VIP room where she already had everything set up.
Lisia finally released her wrist and spun around to face her, hands clasped behind her back.
"Okaaaay!" she said brightly, "First things first, breathe!"
May sucked in a breath. Then another, "…Okay,"
"Good! Now, registration!" Lisia pointed dramatically toward the forms that were already mostly filled, "You're lucky I showed up today. Saves you a ton of paperwork stress, and since I'm scouting you, that means I am technically sponsoring you!"
"I—I was coming to do that," May said weakly.
"And you will," Lisia nodded, "With style!"
She leaned closer, lowering her voice just enough to feel conspiratorial, "You have no idea how many Coordinators freeze up right here. The first step's always the scariest,"
May swallowed, "I… didn't think my first contest would start like this,"
Lisia smiled, "It never does,"
May looked at the form, realizing that since this was her first contest and she wasn't registered yet, she really had been saved from a lot of paperwork. Now all she needed to fill out were three things: name, Trainer ID, and Pokémon entries.
May fumbled for her Pokédex, hands still trembling. Lisia gently steadied her wrist.
"Easy," she said, "One thing at a time. You're doing great,"
That somehow made it worse.
Then, when May put everything in, Lisia called in a clerk who came in and took it. When the clerk finally stamped the registration and slid it back across the counter, May stared at it like it might vanish.
Registered.
She was actually registered.
Lisia clapped her hands once, "Boom! Contestant May is officially real!"
May let out a shaky laugh, "I… wow,"
"Next!" Lisia said, already moving again, pushing her toward the prop room, "Prep rooms!"
Lisia practically skidded to a stop in front of a rack of costumes, spinning back toward May with a hand pressed to her chest, eyes shining like she might actually burst.
"Oooh! I'm happier than a Gloom with a Sun Stone!" she exclaimed, "Ah! I know!" She pointed dramatically toward the ceiling, "This chapter of your story should definitely be called—"
She struck a pose, one finger raised, "My Big Beginning! A Heart-Pounding Contest Debut!"
She clapped her hands together, "That's what I'm calling it! Ohhh, but if you're gonna take the stage, you've gotta come here with me first!"
Before May could respond, Lisia gently but firmly guided her deeper into the prep room. Mirrors lined the walls, lights framing them in warm gold. Tables were covered in ribbons, accessories, powders, brushes, things May had only ever seen on TV.
"So!" Lisia said brightly, turning around and walking backward as she talked, "If you're taking on a Contest Spectacular, there's something you hafta have from me! Tee hee… I know it's sudden. Sorry!"
May blinked, "Something… from you?"
Lisia stopped short and leaned in, lowering her voice dramatically.
"Truth is…" she whispered, then suddenly straightened and threw her arms wide, "you're actually the 100th Trainer that I've scouted, May! That's a really big deal, you know!"
May's brain blue-screened, "W–what?"
"It's gotta be fate! Right? Tee hee!" Lisia beamed, "I think you're just the Trainer I've been looking for!"
She spun, rummaged through a case, then froze mid-motion.
"Oopsies! So-o-o-orry!" she giggled, cheeks pink, "Got a little carried away! ♪ But, um, the point was…"
She turned back, suddenly a little shy, holding a neatly folded outfit in both hands.
"Would you like to…? Well, do you think…? Um—wanna wear this for your contest debut?"
She held it out.
May stared.
The dress Lisia was holding out for her was something May could only describe as cute. It was a white button-up halter-neck top with frilly-ended, white elbow-length sleeves and a pink bow on the front; a pink, purple, and sparkly white ballerina-style tutu; pink and cream frilly shorts; a yellow wrist bracelet with a heart-shaped charm on it; and a small pink hair bow with a shiny pink gemstone. The shoes were cerise-pink kitten heels with pink ribbons.
"I—" May swallowed, "I don't know if I—"
Lisia's eyes lit up anyway, "S-s-s-so… SO COOOOOOL!" she squealed before May had even finished changing, "Oh, wow! It's PERFECT for you! Eeeee! I just can't wait!"
She clasped her hands, bouncing on her heels, "Your first time on a live contest stage, May! It's gonna be so AWESOME! I'm not gonna blink for even a second!"
May looked at herself in the mirror, seeing herself in the costume, and she had to admit, she loved it. It was adorable.
"Phew!" Lisia fanned herself dramatically, "You look so fantastic in that outfit that I'm about to lose it here! You have to wear this contest costume! It'll be perfect for the contest. Promise!"
May let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, "…Okay,"
Lisia froze. Then she vibrated, "I'LL BE CHEERING FOR YOU!" she declared, throwing both arms into the air.
"I-I'll do my best!" May said, nodding quickly.
–
A bit later, when the contest was about to start, the place was packed full. May texted the gang a room number. When they went in, they found the room easily. Since May was now a Lisia-scouted contestant, she had her own personal room for this one. She wouldn't always have one, but for this contest, she did.
She peeked her head out and ushered them in quickly, and that's when they finally saw the outfit May was wearing.
"…Whoa," Max said first.
Brock looked at her dress and took note of how it looked like it was custom-made. Even Ash paused mid-step.
May stood there, half-hidden behind the doorframe, one hand nervously gripping the edge as if she might still retreat. The contest costume shimmered under the warm lights, soft pinks and whites catching just enough sparkle to feel magical without being overwhelming. The bow at her chest sat perfectly, the tutu flared just right, and the gemstone in her hair caught the light every time she moved.
She shifted her weight, suddenly very aware of all the eyes on her, "…Is it too much?"
Brock cleared his throat, "I think it looks nice. You really look like a Coordinator now,"
Max walked a slow circle around her, hands behind his back, squinting like a judge, "Huh. You actually look like one of those people on TV,"
May's shoulders sagged, "That's not reassuring,"
"I mean it in a good way!" Max hurried to add, "Like-like you belong there,"
Ash just smiled. Not the teasing kind. Not the smug way. Just a real smile.
"Yeah," he said, "That looks great on you,"
Pikachu and Vee nodded approvingly, giving May a thumbs-up.
May looked at him. Really looked. And somehow, that grounded her more than all the cheering outside, "…Thanks,"
They heard the contest starting, and since the room had a TV in it, they could see the announcer, Vivian, stepping onto the stage to begin announcing the contest.
"Ah, looks like it's starting. We should probably go get a seat," Brock said, and Max nodded.
"You guys go ahead and save me a seat. I wanna tell May one last thing, 'kay?" Ash said.
Brock and Max ran out to get their seats.
As the door closed, Ash looked at May, "So… nervous?" he said quietly
—
By the time Ash got to the seat Brock and Max had saved for him, the announcements were already halfway done. He sat down as Pikachu and Vee jumped onto his legs, both of them a little out of breath.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have made you wait for a long time. Now, the Hoenn Region Slateport City Pokémon Contest is about to officially begin!"
The host of the Hoenn Region Contest was a curly-haired young woman named Vivian.
The judges for this contest consisted of Raoul Contesta, the director of Pokémon Contests here in Hoenn; Mr. Sukizo, the president of the Hoenn Fan Club; and the Nurse Joy of Slateport City.
She explained the basic rules of the contest. Basically, contests are divided into three main parts.
First, Pokémon are rated based on their condition, essentially how good they look. The second part is the Talent section, where they use moves in flashy, creative ways and perform other visual displays.
Then there is the third part, which involves a battle where the goal isn't just to win, it's to look good doing it. A Pokémon that uses flashy, varied moves would win over one that simply repeats the same attack over and over again. However, not all contests include this section.
In fact, since this contest was considered a Normal Rank contest, there wouldn't be a battle section, just the first two.
Vivian continued addressing the contestants watching from backstage, "If one of you lucky contestants wins the Slateport City Pokémon Contest, you will be awarded the beautiful Slateport Ribbon, which will represent your victory here over your opponents!"
"And Coordinators who manage to earn five different Ribbons from five regional Pokémon Contests will be eligible to participate in the Top Coordinator event, a large-scale Pokémon celebration known as the Grand Festival!"
"So then, without further ado, let the contest begin!" Vivian finally announced as the crowd cheered, and the contest officially began.